Govt won't lower guard on security front in protecting borders: Mufti

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said there would be no lowering of guard on the security front along the the borders of the country. “The government will not lower guard on security front in protecting our borders,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed told the Assembly here. [caption id=“attachment_2180383” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. AFP[/caption] He commended the police, paramilitary forces and the Army for having done a commendable job in bringing peace to the state. “The situation looks normal in Kashmir. The security forces, Army, central security forces and police played a major role for that, but the biggest change has been brought by the people who safeguarded democracy,” he said. Crediting the people of the state for giving a strong mandate in the Assembly elections held last year, Sayeed said it was a historic opportunity to change the fate of the state and people had realised that participation in the democratic process was the only option. “Since 1947, how many problems we have faced. This mandate is a turning point, our history can change,” he said, adding that change will be felt at grassroots level. Terming Jammu and Kashmir as “a garden of democracy”, he said people from outside carry an impression that the airport was like a jail. “I will talk to the police DG so as to make our police receptive and friendly. Even in US, travellers have to go through a rigorous screening process at the airport,” he said. Stressing on the need for making the police force professional, the Chief Minister said it will be made tourist-friendly, especially at Airports and other exit and entry points so that visitors to the state experience a “feel good factor”. The police force will also be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to ensure speedier crime detection, traffic management, investigations and busting of drug trafficking rackets. Sayeed said he will work to strengthen the constituency of peace by laying edifice for strong police-public relations, institutions of probity, delegation of powers and a transparent transfer policy, which will set the tone of good governance for the next six years. He said that the issue of doubling the stipend of Special Police Officers, who have worked relentlessly, from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per month, has been taken up with the Union Home Ministry. PTI